Tweeting in Hindi, the Union Health Minister said, “If the children are safe then the country is safe! I am happy to inform you that the COVID-19 vaccination of children in the age group of 12 to 13 and 13 to 14 is starting from March 16. Also, everyone aged 60+ will now be able to get precaution doses.”

For the 12-14 age group, the vaccine “ Corbevax” will be given manufactured by Biological Evans, Hyderabad”, the government said in a statement.

The vaccination drive for the 15-18 age group has already begun in January this year.

“CDSCO has received results from Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin clinical studies in the 2 – 18 age group (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation). The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) thoroughly analyzed the data and made positive recommendations “According to the Hyderabad-based firm. The final approval is pending and will be given by the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI).

After its final approval, Covaxin will be only the second vaccination approved for use on children in India; Zydus Cadila’s three-dose DNA vaccine was approved for use on adults and children over the age of 12 in August.

The Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech said it had submitted data on vaccine trials on children last week on October 6. The Covaxin vaccination used on children is the same as that used on adults, but separate trials were required to ensure the vaccine’s safety and efficacy in children.

After administering about 96 crore doses to adults, India is quietly shifting its focus to vaccination children against the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Covaxin has failed to receive an EUA, or emergency use authorization, from the World Health Organization. Following delays in the process (the WHO had requested additional trial data from Bharat Biotech), a verdict is likely next week.

Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health & FW, Govt of India tweeted regarding Zycov-D, “ After evaluation of interim Phase III clinical trial results in consultation with Subject Expert Committee, CDSCO has approved DNA COVID-19 vaccine (ZyCoV-D) of M/s Cadila Healthcare for restricted use in an emergency situation in India for 12 years and above. The vaccine has an efficacy of 66.6% and it is to be stored at 2°C to 8°C. The vaccine is needle-free to be administered intradermally in three doses at day 0, 28 and 56.”

In response to a tweet by CDSCO India Info, the Prime Minister said;

“India is fighting COVID-19 with full vigour. The approval for the world’s first DNA based ‘ZyCov-D’ vaccine of @ZydusUniverse is a testimony to the innovative zeal of India’s scientists. A momentous feat indeed.”

The vaccine is developed in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology under the ‘Mission COVID Suraksha’ programme. Once delivered, the three-dose vaccine creates the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s spike protein and stimulates an immune response.

 After Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V, and Moderna, this is the fifth vaccination to be licenced for use in India.

PM was briefed that basic customs duty was exempted on Remdesivir and its API recently. It was suggested that import of equipment related to providing oxygen to patients needs to be expedited and to meet the high demand for Oxygen in the country, it is decided to grant full exemption from Basic Customs Duty and health cess on import of the following items related to Oxygen and Oxygen related equipment for a period of three months with immediate effect:

1. Medical Grade Oxygen
2. Oxygen concentrator along with flow meter, regulator, connectors, and tubing
3. Vacuum Pressure Swing Absorption (VPSA) and Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) oxygen plants, Cryogenic Oxygen Air Separation Units (ASUs) producing liquid/ gaseous oxygen
4. Oxygen Canister
5. Oxygen Filling Systems
6. Oxygen Storage tanks, Oxygen cylinders including cryogenic cylinders and tanks
7. Oxygen Generators
8. ISO Containers for Shipping Oxygen
9. Cryogenic Road transport tanks for Oxygen
10. Parts of the above to be used for the manufacture of equipment for production, transportation, distribution or storage of Oxygen
11. Any other device from which Oxygen can be generated
12. Ventilators (capable of functioning as high-flow devices) with nasal cannula; Compressors including all accessories and tubing; humidifiers and Viral filters
13. High flow nasal cannula device with all attachments
14. Helmets for use with non-invasive ventilation
15. Non-invasive ventilation oronasal masks for ICU ventilators
16. Non-invasive ventilation nasal masks for ICU ventilators

 To improve the supply of oxygen and medical supplies, Central Govt. has taken a lot of measures in the last few days as IAF planes are bringing in cryogenic oxygen tanks from Singapore.